MONTICELLO, NY — It has been more than a month since Colin Kaepernick began protesting the U.S. National Anthem. What began as a solo protest has turned into a nationwide phenomenon. Professional, collegiate and high school athletes have voiced their opinion on Kaepernick’s stance.

Many supporters have collectively knelt during the national anthem in silent protest to address the plethora of social injustices that have occurred throughout the U.S in recent memory.

Critics have called Kaepernick’s protest unpatriotic and consider his actions disrespectful to the military.

Steve Booth, a former sergeant in the U.S. Army and resident of Rock Hill, had mixed feelings for Kaepernick’s protest. “It’s not a fair or intelligent way to address the issues at hand,” said Booth. “I don’t remember a time when our country was more divided.”

Kaepernick has reiterated that his protest of the anthem is not an act of dishonoring the military, but rather its purpose is to bring awareness to the social issues and injustices that African Americans experience every day. “There’s a lot of racism in this country disguised as patriotism,” said Kaepernick.

The social issues that Kaepernick is protesting include police brutality and racial profiling. More than 68 people have been killed in the United States at the hands of the police since Kaepernick began protesting one month ago, according to The Guardian.

Some believe it has become an athlete’s obligation not only to speak on their performance within the confines of the game, but also to address issues that affect social and political realms.

“We as a society are pushing sports through high school and college to reap the benefits of athletes’ talents,” said Anastasia Bowden, former track and field standout at Monticello High School. “Sports and politics absolutely go hand in hand.”

Despite the national attention that Kapernick’s actions have bolstered, his protests have affected local communities as well.

Kevin Clifford, Monticello High School Varsity Football coach, believes that athletes should set the standard for evoking change throughout the world.

“If we expect them to be role models and they have a position to make the world a better place, they should speak on it,” said Clifford. He said that none of his players have approached him about protesting the National Anthem. He said that if they were to protest, he prefers them to demonstrate as a team rather than individually.

“That’s the only way to make change, to come together,” said Clifford.

Some believe that Kaepernick has forced America to engage in uncomfortable discussion that is needed in order to bridge the racial gap that has been present for generations.

To address the racial divide, a question was posed by Booth: “Has what he has done made a change, or did it make the divide even larger?”

Kapernick has made several steps in order to increase awareness of the injustices occurring in the U.S. He has pledged the first $1 million that he earned this NFL season to organizations devoted to assisting communities that are affected by police brutality and other racial injustices.

Kaepernick is also donating 100% of his jersey profits and $100,000 per month to various charities.

Bowden says African-American athletes now have more power to address issues that have festered for more than 400 years.

“We’re now in a generation that blacks have more power than we’ve ever had before,” said Bowden. “We must use our resources accordingly.”